Improvement in railway-raiii splice



.PETERS, PHOTU-LITHUGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. CA

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Letters Patent No'. 99,948, dated February 15, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY-RAIL- SPLICE.

The Schedule referred to in these LettersPatent and making part uf the Bam@ -..44 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD RANDOLPH, of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improved Railroad Splice; and I do here'- by declare the following is a full and clear description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

, In the drawings- Figure I is a plan view.

Figure II is a. cross-sectional view.

Figure III is a partial side View.

Figures IV and V detail views of my invention.

'.lhe object of myjinvention is to form a railroad splice of apiece of 'discarded rail of the same pattern as that in use, or ot` a pattern which combines the greatest rigidity and' bearing surface with the smallest amount of iron, and has a good bearing-'surface at its two ends which come against the sides of the crossu ties, and which splice may be easily v'and cheaply apu plied and heldsecnrely in place by means of self-adjusting clamps, and which, by means ot' plugs arranged in a peculiar manner, prevents the creeping of the rails, and will allow of their longitudinal contraction and expansion, and-'supports them laterally.

In construction, I form my splice as follows:

Inverted under the two ends ot" the railsA A, to be spliced, is placeda piece of rail, B, so that its bottom surtace comes directly against Athe bottom surface of the 'rails A A, and its ends against the -sides of the cross-ties C C, which are at the usual distance apart,

at two points near the ties, respectively, and in the stem of the piece B are holes, b, for the reception'of bolts D D.

These bolts are curved in form, and threaded at l each end for nuts, c, the object of the curvature being to get the nuts into a position easily accessible, and to enable one nut to be screwed ori-without -the one at the other end of the bolt having to be held iu a wrench during the operation.

Upon each side of this bolt, upon each side of the rail, are placed two grooved clamps, ff. The grooves t over the combined flanges of rails A1A and splicepiece B, and are drawn tight by nuts c coming against spring-washers F, having projecting flanges, which come over the clamps j' and hold them in place, and prevent them turning with the nut.

Room is allowed in the grooves of the clamp-pieces and pressure of clamps against them wears o the rough surface. 1

Stock is removed x to let in the head of the plugs G G upon each side of the rails. The Shanks ot the plugs are run through holes made in the flange of piece B, while hot, and

the beveled surface keeps it from turning. l

'lhese plugs are for the purpose ofallowing the rails to move longitudinally only a certain distance before being stopped by them, while the rail is prevented vfrom moving laterally.

tion of the plugs, at a poiutwhere the least strain is upon the rail, and where, consequently, itwill beleast weakened.

`The advantage the cheapness with which all its parts may be made and applied, while by it one continuous rail is formed, in eiect, and space is lett for the rails to contract and expand, and the grooved clamps allow the anges of the rails to move freely through them, While serving their purpose ot' holding kthe anges of piece B and rail A as one piece.

Only two bolts are required in the splice, and if desired, one instead of two groovcd clamps mayv be used on aside, by having the bolt D run through a hole made in one clamp-piece for the purpose.

The grooved clamp-pieces may be ont otf in sectional pieces from a bar rolled and' stamped to the proper form.

The spring-washers can be cheaply made of sheetsteel. y

ters Patent, is-

1. A splice forme in place by clamps, constructed as described, of grooved clamp-pieces ff, spring-washers F, and curved bolt D D, all arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown. A

2. The construction and arrangement ot' the guideplugs` G G, substantially as described. v RANDOLPH.

Witnesses: Y

T. DRURY, It. F. HYDE.

for thespring-washers F to draw'the clamps tight against the flangesof the rails, as the jar. of travel from 'the ends of each rail A A` riveted to the inner side of ange of piece B, wherel The stock is removed from the rails .for the recep-v s of this device are its strength and What I claim as new, and desire-to secure by'Lett d ot' aV piece of rail, B, and held 

